I need a set of un-pitted taillight bezels for my 2+2. I just got an estimate of $800 to restore the ones I've got! I am in the wrong business! I am all set on the lenses, I just need the chrome bezels. Anybody out there have an excellent un pitted set they want to part with?
It took me years to get two decent 69' NOS ones. You can find the shorter Catalina ones nos all the time, but the Bonnys are rarely seen. Used ones , or ones that were on a car that spent even a few years in the weather will have some pits. As off as it sounds, $800 probably isn't a reach or even a poor investment imop to have them redone. I spent about $500 for mine and even they have the "shelf wear" even though they were boxed. At least they'll gleam if redone.
Good luck, and you never know what's out there! Mark
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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
Thanks for the input. Most of the repair cost is in the painstaking labor to prepare them before plating. This is one of those areas where you need a "good" friend in the business! I will probably be going this route and the car I have is worthy of it, however, my initial out lay for the car still stings a bit! But that's my problem! Thanks again!
On looking at the overall value and rarity of your 2+2, the investment needed to get some nice, correct looking bezels in there, is well worth the value imop. What does $800 really get today anyways? I bet the amount of work needed to restore a pitted chrome die cast part is huge. Are they really that badly pitted? I have spares that arn't that bad if that might help.
Let us know how the replating goes if you move forward with it...I'd love to see how they'd turn out.
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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
Unfortunately, that is correct. A Parisienne one would work, but the Strato Chief is the same as a Catalina and will not work. Thanks anyway!
Just find two perfect nos Catalina/Strato bezels, a trunk lid and tailpanel to go with them, lol! After all, we've seen a Laurentien here cloned into a 2+2, and it looks good.
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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
Tempting as it is...no thanks. I have had my share of "clones" over the years and I bought this one cause it's the real thing. I'll spend the money to keep it that way. Did I just say that?
No offense intended on my part. I put a lot of money into a '68 GTO convertible clone using a Lemans as the base. I finished it and sold it for a lot less than a true GTO would have brought. The thing is, it was still an awesome car and the only way you could tell was by the VIN and cowl tag. This time, however, I wanted a car that was the real deal...and I paid for it!
Nothing wrong with wanting the real thing. I just can't spend the kind of money most of them demand. I LOVE looking at and drooling over the expensive stuff.
I too started a GTO clone convert but sold it before I finished it. At current values when it is done it will still likely bring the investment the new owner has in it but you always take a chance doing a clone.
Heck, you always take a chance building any old car. It's still gotta be fun, no matter whether it's real or clone.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
You can buy a kit to repair the pitting. There is a link to the company that sells it on here. I'm at work so I don't have time to find it. I think the rods are about $48.00 U.S. All you need is a propane torch (or something similar). You apply flux, heat these rods and they fill the pits. Worth a try- you could save yourself a few hundred bucks.
You can buy a kit to repair the pitting. There is a link to the company that sells it on here. I'm at work so I don't have time to find it. I think the rods are about $48.00 U.S. All you need is a propane torch (or something similar). You apply flux, heat these rods and they fill the pits. Worth a try- you could save yourself a few hundred bucks.
Todd
would it do a hood bird ornament thingy. is so i have a pitted one i would like to do up for the beast
I saw them being demonstrated at Hershey. The only thing is, I think the chrome had been stripped off the diecast. I think you need the chrome off to do the repair, no?
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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
I have seen this product. Pot metal melts around 800 degrees F. The normal flux used to fill the pits melts between 700-750 degrees...a little too close for comfort for a novice. The trick to this kit is the flux rod they supply melts at a lower temperature (350 degrees) so less chance of destroying the part. The chrome does have to be stripped and the pits drilled out to get rid of any contaminants. As you can see, the cost in restoring pot metal is about 70% labor.
If my extra is the same as my Strato Chief, its wrong for 2+2 correct?
